Felicia
by
June Imber
The
Story of a Twitch
In
January 2006, a woman purchased a fluffy bird toy
from the Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve
and Visitor Centre. One can imagine the look on Geoff
Jones’s face, a member of HOS, when the woman
disclosed that the toy was a replica of the bird that
visits her garden in Gosport. That bird was a Hoopoe!
It
took but a few hours for birdwatchers to investigate,
and there it was, visiting Felicia Park Farm in Gosport.
It was broadcast to HOS and Birdguides and the twitch
began.
The
staff of Felicia Park Farm should have hurled buckets
of molten tar over the birdwatchers with wild shrieks
of – ‘’’****er off and get
a life you nerds,’’ but strange reports
began filtering through of a weird occurrence. Birdwatchers
were being met with a smile and a warm greeting, even
being invited through the gates into the farm itself,
and if time permitted, tea and biscuits were being
offered.
The
farm is run entirely by unpaid volunteers. The combination
of rescued animals and disadvantaged children is heart-warming.
As June says, ‘Animals do not know they are
disadvantaged children, they do not judge.’
The farm is also a refuge for wild animals, and despite
being a built up area, badgers and foxes visit, as
do many species of birds.
Twitchers
came from all over, but it was pot-luck for them.
The bird might be brazenly sitting a few feet away,
posing for the paparazzi, but like all celebs, was
temperamental and other days would refuse to make
an appearance. A Hoopoe is not only rare, it must
rank as one of the most unmistakable exotic birds
in Europe and beyond. Had we been twitching a rare
gull, the press would have looked upon us as anorak
geeks, but even they were entranced by Felicia.
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Felicia
Park has enjoyed the company of a very special visitor
since November 2005, the Hoopoe bird, who decided
to winter with us, and so unwittingly become an important
member of our P.R. team!
The
Hoopoe was identified by birdwatcher Peter Raby, who
quickly put the information online, and other birdwatchers
came to Felicia Park from as far away as Wales, Leicester,
Bristol, London and Stafford, as well as more local
areas.
The
subsequent newspaper reports featuring photos of the
Hoopoe, certainly helped to raise awareness, not only
of this lovely bird. It is not only very rare, but
even more so during the cold winter months. But it
also gave awareness of Felicia Park and the important
community work undertaken here in Gosport.
The
farm was founded in 1984 by Sue Hitchman, husband
Mark, and her daughter Ruth, with added support from
family and friends, all dedicated volunteers. The
day-to-day care of the animals has enabled children,
students, and adults to learn animal husbandry and
care of the environment, and to study itinerant wildlife,
on this small precious area.
Over
the years the work at Felicia Park has expanded to
working with special needs, disabled and disadvantaged
children and adults. At the same time Felicia Park
has been home to all the animals in our loving care,
for their lifetime.
In
2000 we were in great fear of losing Felicia Park
to housing development, but we were fortunate in that
Barratt Homes, who purchased the land from the M.O.D.,
saved a small corner where we could relocate, so we
were able to remain and carry on with our important
community work.
We
now lease the land from Barratt’s, and with
the sympathetic help from the M.D., Mr Steven Wilks,
we hope to continue to do so. Never the less, it costs
almost £20,000 a year to run Felicia Park and
we are constantly fundraising to maintain it, and
grateful for any help.
We
have enjoyed the opportunity to welcome not only the
Hoopoe bird, we named ‘Felicia’, but also
many new birdwatcher friends to meet us.
Thank
you on behalf of Sue Hitchman and team.
JUNE
IMBER (Liaison officer)
Felicia
Park Urban Community Farm
Sealark
road, Hardway Gosport, Hants.
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June
says visitors are still made welcome any time during
the day, go through the gates, but please make a donation.
If you wish to make a postal donation, send to the
above address. The farm has served the community,
in a low-profile manner, for 25 years. No one receives
any wages or expenses, but they are still looking
for volunteers to help and would particularly appreciate
someone to do the accounts.
They
cannot take in any more animals as they are gradually
losing their grazing land, but for the people of Gosport,
they continue to help not only the disadvantaged,
but groups of school children and students. Birdwatchers
know how genuinely warm was the welcome, when they
need not have done so, so ensure you do not lose this
community farm.
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